The unexpected arrival of an Orthodox man and his son to a rural Hungarian village results in a reckoning for the townspeople, many of which benefited from the deportation of the Jewish population during WWII.

Synopsis

On a summer day in 1945, an Orthodox man and his grown son return to a village in Hungary while the villagers prepare for the wedding of the town clerk’s son. The townspeople – suspicious, remorseful, fearful, and cunning – expect the worst and behave accordingly. The town clerk fears the men may be heirs of the village’s deported Jews and expects them to demand their illegally acquired property back. Director Ferenc Török paints a complex picture of a society trying to come to terms with the recent horrors they’ve experienced, perpetrated, or just tolerated for personal gain. A superb ensemble cast, lustrous black and white cinematography, and historically detailed art direction contribute to an eloquent drama that reiterates Thomas Wolfe’s famed sentiment: you can’t go home again.

“A fresh, intelligent cinematic approach to a difficult topic that takes on a transitional time in Hungarian history with subtlety and nuance.” – Variety

“Simple, powerful, made with conviction and skill…” – Los Angeles Times

“One of the most stunningly beautiful movies you’ll see all year, 1945 engages questions and emotions that are rarely even contemplated in cinema. Much more than a war film, it’s a pure film experience where every frame could be hung on a wall and looked upon in awe.” – Miami Herald